Name: Sunkist Orange Cupcakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 14 cupcakes
Cuisine: American

Cake Mix Recipes Verified

February 8, 2026

Sunkist Orange Cupcakes are a bright citrus flavored cake that is light and fluffy but bursting with intense orange flavor. It's perfect for parties – summer parties, birthday parties or just because it is Tuesday parties. The recipe is quick and easy, and the soda really makes them fluffy. The carbon dioxide bubbles in soda act as a leavening agent, therefore the cupcakes will rise and become very light, tender and fluffy.

From the Cook

1/8

Sunkist Orange Cupcakes

Cake Mix Recipes Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 5 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the white cake mix and Sunkist for a total of 2 minutes.

Scoop the batter with a measuring cup into the cupcake liners.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, nothing sticking to it.

Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. (1-2hours)

While waiting , place 1 cup of Sunkist in a saucepan and heat until boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 1/4 (2 ounces of soda should remain). Allow to cool completely.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and powdered icing sugar for 2-3 minutes, then add the reduced Sunkist soda. Beat to mix well together, then add the milk as needed to receive a spreadable texture. Adjust the color with orange food dye, if needed.

Use an angled spatula to spread 1-2 Tablespoons of frosting onto each cooled cupcake.

Put the sugar crystals in a small bowl and roll the cupcakes in the sugar crystals to cover completely.

Scoop the rest of the frosting into a piping bag and snip off the bottom 1” of the piping bag.

Swirl a 1” circle onto each cupcake and garnish with orange sprinkles.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Soda Activation Technique 🫧
Let the Sunkist soda go flat before mixing into the cake batter to ensure precise carbonation levels and optimal cake rise.
Zest Concentration Hack 🍊
Rub orange sugar crystals with fresh orange zest before mixing to intensify the citrus flavor and create deeper aromatic notes.
Moisture Preservation Trick 💧
Brush the baked cupcakes with a light Sunkist orange syrup while still warm to lock in moisture and enhance the citrus flavor profile.
Frosting Temperature Control 🧊
Chill the butter to exactly 65°F before creaming to ensure the most stable and smooth orange-infused buttercream frosting.
Sprinkle Placement Art 🎨
Apply orange sprinkles immediately after frosting while the surface is still slightly tacky to ensure maximum adhesion and visual appeal.